Smooth transfer of leadership needed: Gus Dur

Smooth transfer of leadership needed: Gus Dur

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid, better known
as Gus Dur, is an astute social and political observer, whose
views very often shape public opinion.

He has a strong opinion as to what major problems Indonesia
will face in the next five years, naming a smooth transfer of
leadership as paramount on the agenda. He examines these issues
in the following question and answer.

Question: What do you think is the biggest test for Indonesia
in the next few years?

Answer: It depends on the specific fields we are dealing with.

In politics, for instance, the most important agenda is for
Indonesia to see a transfer of power from a government whose
state leadership style is a personalized one, to one which is
wholly institutionalized.

The main question is how Indonesia can smoothly change the
personalized leadership (style) into something that (relies more)
on an institution.

In relation to ideology, the main challenge is how to solidify
our ideological life so that it remains securely anchored on
nationalism. This is because there are now threats toward our
ideology from "narrow-minded" groups seeking to dominate. These
groups could be religious in nature, or ethnic groups, which play
on the (conflict) between indigenous and nonindigenous people.

The challenge is how we can balance the needs of those groups,
whose dimensions are very narrow, with the need to widen the
horizon and scope of our life as a nation.

Q: In other fields?

A: In economics, the main agenda for Indonesia is how to narrow
the gap between the rich and the poor. And how to maintain a more
just economic structure.

In other words, if we are committed to the free market, then
we should not let this develop into injustice. In fact,
commitment toward the free market should be developed so that its
results support social justice.

Take for instance the European countries, Japan and the United
States, where economic liberalization and stiff competition serve
to strengthen people's empowerment.

Q: What about the cultural field?

A: I think that the most important agenda is how to develop
values and outlooks that are able to neutralize the negative
impact of the commercialization of our culture.

Take entertainment, for instance. It is so commercial in
nature that the other impulses of society do not have any room at
all.

This means that we need the ability to balance the commercial
dimension (of our culture) with other dimensions, including
humanity, wisdom and spirituality.

Q: And the field of religion?

A: The greatest challenge that Indonesia will face in the next
few years is how to give religion a cosmopolitan face. There
should not be any exclusive position toward other religions and
beliefs, which have their own spirituality .

There should not be any escalation of exclusivism. Instead,
there should be a willingness to learn from each other. There
should be a process of searching for a greater coexistence
between different religious and spiritual groups.

This is important for us to reach a healthy, constitutional
life. According to the 1945 Constitution, everybody is equal
before the law. How do we make this a reality? How do we enforce
the law and not let intimidation and use of force prevail?

Take for instance the (recent) case of (a group of Moslem
leaders' outrage over some articles published by) Kompas. Our
test is how to strengthen the position of those seeking to
express their opinion, so that they will not be intimidated by
the snarling of exclusivists. I regret the case because people
are now hesitant about voicing their opinion freely.

Q: What is our agenda in the social sphere?

A: What's most important is how to curb the emergence of "narrow
loyalty", such as loyalty toward one's region only. This (narrow
loyalty) sometimes (annuls) a sense of belonging that should
exist among all citizens.

Q: What do you think is the first step that Indonesians should
take in the wake of such big problems?

A: We should first be honest with ourselves and reflect. And take
steps that are in accordance with what it is we obtain in our
reflection. This applies to everybody, those leading the nation
and the community in general. (swe)